tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post9012205051868243461..comments2023-11-02T08:28:08.286-05:00Comments on Rany on the Royals: Reason #9: The Closer.Ranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713226276377020284noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-70982669057119772182008-03-19T11:57:00.000-05:002008-03-19T11:57:00.000-05:00Rany,I love your stuff, and your comments on Mexic...Rany,<BR/>I love your stuff, and your comments on Mexican baseball were really insightful.<BR/><BR/>However, how can you miss that our Royal's own Jorge De La Rosa was born in Monterry, Mexico? Maybe HE's the one who could benefit from the pen, and move Soria to the rotation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-30720683032292216342008-03-19T07:29:00.000-05:002008-03-19T07:29:00.000-05:00"Moore understands better than anyone that he shou..."Moore understands better than anyone that he shouldn't be pitching 200 innings this season."<BR/><BR/>Do we really know that, or are we just ascribing knowledge to the guy based on an assumption that we think DM is good general manager? <BR/><BR/>If anyone should understand that a pitcher like Soria shouldn't exceed 200 innings, it would be someone like Dusty Baker. Of course, Baker never Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-41407972100223462512008-03-18T17:32:00.000-05:002008-03-18T17:32:00.000-05:00So no Latinos start in the major leagues? There a...So no Latinos start in the major leagues? There are plenty of players that play in the Winter Leagues. And plenty of them are pitchers and plenty of them are starters. And his elbow surgery happened a long time ago. The situation and recovery has changed. Again, no one who wants Soria to start expects 220 innings out of him by this year. But by the time the Royals are ready to contend, it Antonio.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08740155942210835984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-77083455578940047352008-03-18T17:05:00.000-05:002008-03-18T17:05:00.000-05:00My idea is to go with a month by month basis...I t...My idea is to go with a month by month basis...I think he'd throw about 130 or so innings, which would be more than the 25 innings increased posted above, but I was thinking BP had a higher increase listed. I know it's just one guy, but Verlander seemed to do fine with his increase.<BR/><BR/>Closer for April, set-up for May, short relief for June, long relief for July, swingman/spot starter for Antonio.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08740155942210835984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-3471834968761595422008-03-18T15:23:00.000-05:002008-03-18T15:23:00.000-05:00Soria did play Winter ball in Mexico. But he pitch...Soria did play Winter ball in Mexico. But he pitched as a closer. Limited action in the season, about 10 innings. But substancial action in the playoffs, about 12 - 18 innings. <BR/>His team actually won the championship, after 27 years of constant dissapointment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-58765608557008425662008-03-18T10:49:00.000-05:002008-03-18T10:49:00.000-05:00I might be crazy, but I think the biggest reason t...I might be crazy, but I think the biggest reason that the Royals are leaving Soria as a reliever is actually his inning count. As we all know 200 innings or so per year is about the max that a pitcher can safely throw. After that there is a pretty steep drop in performance(See Bannister last year, those last 2 starts put him at around 230 innings pitched(both in the majors and winter ball) and itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-13019974197140835682008-03-18T10:47:00.000-05:002008-03-18T10:47:00.000-05:00NOBODY is factoring in the fact that Soria has alr...NOBODY is factoring in the fact that Soria has already had elbow problems and required surgery for that. I'd be curious to see what take is on moving him to the rotation when considering this factor. It would seem like pitching an inning every few days (or 4-5 innings in 7 days) would be a lot easier on an elbow than starting would be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-58711533517216966582008-03-18T10:22:00.000-05:002008-03-18T10:22:00.000-05:00Jack,I thought that was you. I enjoyed that blog a...Jack,<BR/>I thought that was you. I enjoyed that blog a lot. I was dissapointed when Joe just disappeared. I like the idea of giving soria 10+ starts at the end of the season. Too bad we don't have a lot of in house canidates to close, but hey, if Joe Nelson can do it, then someone in our system should be able to.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10843238568168828027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-36025927430823064152008-03-18T00:22:00.000-05:002008-03-18T00:22:00.000-05:00If Greinke and Soria have similar abilities, etc. ...If Greinke and Soria have similar abilities, etc. it would seem much wiser to make Zack the closer and put Soria in the rotation. Based on personality/history, I think Zack getting bored with only being in the game every five days will turn out to be a major factor.KBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16006172794459713994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-91862876750840489762008-03-18T00:04:00.000-05:002008-03-18T00:04:00.000-05:00I had never been able to figure out if I liked the...I had never been able to figure out if I liked the idea of moving Soria to the rotation. I think I was mired in the security of knowing he was there to shut things down in the (8th and) 9th. But this post makes me really, really, REALLY want to see what he could do as a starter. <BR/><BR/>Also, the quote about him being "the Mexican Greinke" made me laugh really hard. Rany, I very seriously love Mindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12296930777620801951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-48729510165929348642008-03-17T23:45:00.000-05:002008-03-17T23:45:00.000-05:00Oh yeah, and Brett, we did indeed write posts toge...Oh yeah, and Brett, we did indeed write posts together on Joe Bazinet's blog the Pine Tar Rag. Not sure whatever happened to Joe, but that was a solid blog I thought. Good to hear from you again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-48477265750513590792008-03-17T23:43:00.000-05:002008-03-17T23:43:00.000-05:00I'm not sure the Royals are as hesistant to move h...I'm not sure the Royals are as hesistant to move him to the rotation as some seem to think. Posnanski points out that history shows that GM's don't make a young pitcher a closer and then move him to the rotation, basically ever. So there's a temptation to base our probability on history alone and assume it won't happen. Looking at it more practically though, the Royals don't really have Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-36849256809689561482008-03-17T22:40:00.000-05:002008-03-17T22:40:00.000-05:00Yes, closers are very expensive to attain in free ...Yes, closers are very expensive to attain in free agency, but starters aren't exactly cheap either.<BR/><BR/>I am a huge fan of moving Soria to the rotation.Antonio.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08740155942210835984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-70343039644194466562008-03-17T22:39:00.000-05:002008-03-17T22:39:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Antonio.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08740155942210835984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-47907437103370557162008-03-17T20:01:00.000-05:002008-03-17T20:01:00.000-05:00there's NO reason to not give Soria 10 starts this...there's NO reason to not give Soria 10 starts this season.<BR/><BR/>Absolutely none.Clinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224098167135872875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-84933690755100577852008-03-17T16:18:00.000-05:002008-03-17T16:18:00.000-05:00I think in a perfect world, Carlos Rosa would be o...I think in a perfect world, Carlos Rosa would be our closer in a year or two. The best bullpens are filled with your own failed or excess starters.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10843238568168828027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-82259908443552137762008-03-17T16:15:00.000-05:002008-03-17T16:15:00.000-05:00Soria has a chance to be a legit No. 2 starter. I...Soria has a chance to be a legit No. 2 starter. I do not see the him becoming an ace, but a rotation of:<BR/>Meche<BR/>Soria<BR/>Bannister<BR/>Greinke<BR/>Hochevar<BR/>is not too bad. The bottom line is that the Royals will need to develop a closer. They are way too expensive to obtain via free agency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-70985654132015697702008-03-17T15:54:00.000-05:002008-03-17T15:54:00.000-05:00I think Soria is a potential future Cy Young conte...I think Soria is a potential future Cy Young contender. The sooner they make the move to the rotation, the better - although they should ease him into the rotation by monitoring his increase in innings each year closely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com